Determine the child's learning style. It can be visual, tactile or auditory. Jan Van Blarcum, founder of Dallas-based Creative Tutors, believes understanding how a child learns is essential to helping her retain information. She advises using a learning styles chart as the determining factor.

The Eddie Eagle GunSafe® Program teaches children in pre-K through third grade four important steps to take if they find a gun. These steps are presented by the program's mascot, Eddie Eagle®, in an easy-to-remember format consisting of the following simple rules: If you see a gun: STOP! Don't Touch. Leave the Area. Tell an Adult. Seems simple enough! But parents across the nation are debating this program and if it should be allowed in schools. Guns are dangerous and kids need to know it.

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Two books you should read are: Drive by Daniel Pink and The Global Achievement Gap by Tony Wagner Both books sum it up by stressing the importance of having pride and interest in what you do. Most schools ignore career-oriented approaches with combined learning on the job classroom instruction. I read a sample test question from the Common Core State Standards Initiative test that intends to ensure that all students leave high school ready for college or careers: "Give me 8 sheep and then we will have an equal number," said one shepherd to another: "No, you give me 8 sheep and then I will have twice as many as you," replied another shepherd. How many sheep did each shepherd have to start with? Write an equation or inequality that has (a) no real solutions; (b) infinite number of solutions; and (c) exactly one real solution. It is much easier to score factoring test questions than that of language arts. I personally believe that is the core problem with our standardized testing approach.

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True, it is a growing concern that our nations children are becoming obese. With high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol becoming part of the their health concerns how do we help children practice habits that will help them live longer and healthier lives?

Richard Simmons knows personally how it feels to be a child with a weight issue. Cutting public schools funding for PE and Extra Curricular Activities are not acceptable options! To cut PE as well as reduce or limit recess prevents a child from learning good habits about health and weight loss. Additionally, children need physical exercise and good eating habits to preform better in their daily subjects. Keeping focused and energized for Math and Reading helps the child preform better on their daily work and to be a good student. Ultimately, helping the school achieve higher marks on their standardize testing requirements under No Child Left Behind (NCLB.)

State testing will become more difficult in the coming years as the new testing requirements begin to be implemented. (TAKS, STARS, EOG'S)

A healthy life style includes; eating right and including exercise in your life. From an early age, our children need to learn both habits as they move through different ages and stages of their lives.

Healthy children have happier lives keeping depression rates lower for our nations children. Parents, pay attention to this issue. It will help your child live a healthier, happier and stronger life!

Learn more about this important issue by listening to some of the radio interviews by Richard Simmons.

Special Needs kids can welcome an amusement park in San Antonio, Texas. The grand opening is Friday, April 9th. Tickets for special needs kids are free, family members and caregivers cost $5.

It is extremely exciting that there is a sensory village and handicap access to all the rides along with additional caution with crowd control.

Texas Governor Rick Perry considers reducing the numbers of textbooks in Texas Public Schools and is considering replacing them with electronic book devices over the next four years siting that textbooks become out of date quickly and by using software and technology it would allow textbooks to be updated easily and is more cost affective in the long run.

Since Texas is one of the largest populated states thus addressing higher and growing student population issues than other states Texas has come under intense scrutiny about the content in textbooks that reflect the demographics of Texas. These controversial issues have drawn fire from Hispanic lawmakers and academic experts as recently as last month when the Texas State Board of Education was blasted for minimizing the contributions of minorities as it attempts to rewrite guidelines for the teaching of history and social studies.

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When a child is suspended from school it directly affects the student's learning. When a child is suspended from school they are deprived of valuable instruction from their teachers. Most frequently, students suspended from school are behind and struggling academically. Clearly understanding the direction from the school disciple code is critical in moving through the suspension or expulsion steps. Ultimately seeking a direction that can supports a positive student behavior plan coupled with attention to reaching graduation from high school should become the focus for the family and the student involved in the suspension from school.

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